Cunha Family Emergency Fund

My name is Dan, and I have a wife, Tammy, who is disabled, and two daughters, Cailin (16) and Ellie (11) that still live with us. (Our oldest, Aleks, is 19 and lives on his own).

We desperately need your help.

UPDATE: Anything over the goal will go to paying off accrued medical debt and helping us afford the various modifications and whatnot to make Tammy’s life more accessible and comfortable.



Two years ago, Tammy was diagnosed with SCA1, a degenerative brain disease.  Basically, her motor skills took a sharp, quick decline, and will only progressively get worse over the next 10-20 years.

She can't walk without assistance, her speech is often slurred depending on how tired she is, can no longer drive, and just generally needs help with  her normal day to day life.

Our family has been trying to find our footing since the diagnosis, while I've essentially been learning how to be a not-really-but-sort-of single parent.

In December of 2019, I was let go from my job.  It's been a struggle to find something new.

We currently have no savings, no car, no job, are about to be evicted, unemployment benefits are being worked through but aren't currently there, a disabled wife and two kids.  I just don't know what else to do.

We owe our current landlord about $7000 through March rent.  I don't know how much longer it will take to find a job.  He's made it clear we need to leave and can't extend much farther.  Beyond that, this is a townhouse with all the bedrooms on the second floor, which is extremely difficult for Tammy to live in. (We moved here before her diagnosis or symptoms started)

So we also need to find a new place to live, which requires first/last etc and moving expenses.  The hardest part is finding something that is going to accommodate Tammy's needs, that we can get into with our terrible credit.  She can't do stairs, so we need something that is single-floor / Rancher style, with a walk-in shower at the very least.

We also need to figure out a vehicle.  Right now we're using Lyft and MTA Mobility to get around but that's unsustainable.

I just want to make sure my family survives the next few months while I get a new job and can stabilize with a steady paycheck, as well as get Tammy into a house that doesn't work against her.

Anything can help, and please share as wide as you can. 

Thank you.